Natural light illuminating means for displays



Aug. 21, 1934.

H. c. TURNER El AL NATURAL LIGHT, ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR DISPLAYS Filed 00L 2, 1935 ur! WE'GHT- mvENTdRs ATTO RN EY5 Patented Aug. 21, 1934 NATURAL LIGHT ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR. DISPLAYS Hughes 0, Turner, New York, N. Y., and Howard B y S ack Det Mi h; said ack signer to said Turner Application. October 2, 1933, Serial No. 691,822 6 Claims. (cl, 40-28) This invention relates to an improved structure Wherebycutside natural light maybe made use of for the observation of displayed cards, illustrations; or the like, within a shell or housing, as

contrasted with the present reliance upon the intermittent activation of an electric bulb or similar source of light positioned within the shell and observably adjacent the card or panel whose temporary illumination is desired. In the specific embodiment herein illustrated it has to do with the now frequently used coin-controlled weighing machines, wherein the weight numbers are displayedfrom the periphery of a load actuated disc "or wheel, and a copending application of ours, now Patent No. 1,947,314, Feb. 20, 1934, deals with the embodiment therewith, for purposes of making it additionallyattractive to patronage, of an endless belt display mechanism Whereon advertis ing cards, pictures, fortunetelling cards, and the like may be displayed at 'a-selected point within the scale shell, conveniently adjacent the weightreadingaperture, which is dependent for its observability upon the proper and paid for coincontrolled operation of the weighing'mechanism. In some of theseconstructionsthe selective illumination ofthe display cards is made dcpfil dent upon the activation of an electric bulb positioned operatively adjacent thedisplay position of the several message cards, the activation thereof being of course regulated by the makingor breaking of an electric circuit connected with a suitable current source. This is, however, not only inconvenient and unreliable because of the battery, if such be used, becoming exhausted, but as well because of the requirement for additional lever or similar contact parts which must be connected up with the load-operated mechanism, and in such a mechanism where economy of space is a highly desirable consideration, it often hapypens that such a bulb-illuminable construction can only be installed at an undue expense as regards the space devoted thereto. To the avoidance of these objections, therefore, the present disclosure has to do with the provision of an adequately illuminated display card space which is in no way dependent upon such artificial illumination from a source positioned within the shell, but rather upon the natural light from without. Our preferred embodiment of this improvement is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the top portion of one form of a scale display shell wherein our improved natural light structure is involved.

Figure 2 is a side sectional elevation of the same taken through the line 2--2 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows there shown.

Figure 3 is a plan view from above.

A represents the enclosing shell of the weight- 6% indicating mechanism, and B the somewhat sloping'top thereof, at the top or back edge of which is positioned the slightly rising portion C, through whose apertureol center the load-activated numeral disc D is observable; Between the rear space of the shell A, which, generally speaking,

is occupied by the load-transmitting elements of the scale mechanism proper, and which need not be further here described, andthe front wall of the shell A, is positioned an endless belt struc- '70 ture E, which, passing over the sprocket drum F and a companion drum at the bottom (not shown), serves to successively displayin-observable relation to the aperture G a series'of message cards H, which are hingedly supported in spaced relation along the endless chain E. While the cards are thus successively positioned fairly near the aperture G in the sloping top 'wall'B, they are sufficiently within the shell as to be shaded to a degree which would render the reading of their messages quite difiicult, particularly in view of the fact that it is only intended that they be readfrom a certain specific angular directioiras regards the eye of the user, further,

because, for the sake of space economy, their messages are in comparatively small type. It is compensated for by the use of a lens'd, positioned in the central aperture of the domejor crown piece K, which would enable a cheater to partly thwart the purpose of the mechanism by unauthorized 50 reading of the message cards, that is, Without first dropping a coin in theslot I of the machine. If it were possible to look in upon the displayed cards from the direction indicated by the dotted lines Y or Z in Figure 2, it would, however, be possible were the dome K a mere skeletonized structure or were it fully transparent. on the other hand, if the dome K were made of metal or other opaque material, it would so darken the observability space upon the card then under display, upon which the lens J is focused, that the aid of an illuminalole bulb or similar artificial lighting means would be necessary to cast sufiicient light thereupon. We therefore propose to surmount these features of objection .by con- 0 structing the truncated dome K of frosted or similarly non-transparent glass, which, however,

is translucent to a degree which permits the suincient entry of light rays from all sides of the dome K so that the message upon the then dis- -ll0 played card may be easily read through the lens J. The space thus illuminable through the translucent glass is indicated by the bounding dotted lines M and N in Figure 2.

Since even this protection still leaves it possible for a would-be cheating customer to read the then displayed card through the lens J, even though, because of his failure to drop a coin in the slot, he is not given the benefit of the loadactuated weight reading, we sometimes install as a protection against this petty cheating a pivoted shutter, as P, which when in the raised or fullline position shown in Figure 2 does not obstruct the view through the lens J onto the display card H, being swung to a position practically parallel with one of the light bounding lines M. This, when the device is not in use, is lowered to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, thus obscuring any possible view of a display-ed message through the lens J, being activated by the lever Q which is connected with the rock shaft R Whose rotative actuation is controlled by the movement of the load-actuated mechanism, which, as already stated, can only be operated when released for that purpose by the deposited coin in the slot I. Of course when the shutter P is raised to the non-obscuring position shown in full lines in Figure 2, it to a degree diminishes the quantity of outside natural light falling upon the then displayed card H, but does not diminish the degree of light projection to an extent which is at all objectionable as regards the clear observability of the cards displayed message.

What we claim is:

1. In combination with an enclosing shell provided with an inspection aperture, a plurality of successively exposable display cards movably positioned therein in position of restricted observability relatively to said aperture, a translucent truncated dome positioned in said shell aperture in a way to obstruct the visibility of the then dis played card while contributing to the degree of external natural light falling thereon, and a lens supported by said dome in position to facilitate the reading of the card then in displayed position when viewed from its intended point of reading outside or" the enclosing shell.

2. In combination with an apertured housing, a translucent truncated dome structure partially closing said aperture and adapted to permit the penetration of illuminating light rays within the shell while interfering with the readability through it of displayed matter interiorly of the housing, and a lens supported in the apertured center portion of the translucent dome member in focused position relatively to the selected display area within the housing which is illuminatingly served by the translucent dome structure.

3. In combination with an apertured shell and mechanism for successively positioning a plurality of display panels at a selected position, illuminating structure therefor, comprising a translucent truncated dome member partially closing said aperture while transmitting rays of light from the outside to the particular area there- Within which is to be illuminated, and a lens supported in focused positioned relatively to such area thus illuminated by the edge of the apertured portion of said translucent dome structure.

4. Means for interfering with the unauthorized inspection of matter displayed subjacently of a lens focused thereon, and for increasing the legibility of its displayed matter through the lens, comprising a dome member of generally truncated conical contour formed of translucent but not transparent material whereon and whereby the lens is supported in focused relation to the displayed matter, and whose constituent side walls permit the passage of illuminating natural light rays from the outside thereupon in addition to those passing through the lens itself.

5. A natural light transmitting structure for facilitating the observation of matter displayed focally subjacent of a lens, and for interfering with the unauthorized examination of such matter, comprising a translucent dome structure wherein and whereby the lens is supported in suitable relation to the displayed matter and through whose constituent wall additional natural light rays are permitted to fall upon the displayed material, the walls of said truncated dome structure serving to obstruct visibility of the displayed material other than directly through the lens.

6. A translucent though non-transparent lenssupporting structure, comprising a truncated dome whereby the lens is supported in focal relation to displayed matter, and through whose material from directions other than through the lens.

HUGHES C. TURNER. HOWARD ROY STACKS.

its 

